That week had had its ups and downs, but mostly downs. He was so close to being kicked out of school. And it was only his third week. The only people who cheered him up were his new friends, Zack, Cody, London, and Maddie. Especially Maddie. There was something about her that lifted his spirits. When he saw her, heard her voice, just anything that had to do with her, made him smile. But, he couldn't get distracted by girls. He needed to finish what he had come here to do.

"Hey Travis."

"Hi Carey."

"Where's Maddie?" asked Carey.

"Her shift doesn't start for a few minutes." Travis said, glumly.

"What's the matter?"

"Well. I'm close to suspension or expulsion. And on top of that I don't know where my next meal's coming from. Or when it's coming." Travis explained.

"Well, you can have dinner with me tonight. The boys won't be home though. They're going to their friend, Tapeworm's, house."

"That's OK. As long as I can get a meal. What time should I be there?"

"Around 8."

"Thanks Carey. Ooh. I should get back to work."

"Alright. See you tonight."

"Alright. Bye."

"Hey Travis. What's up?" called Maddie.

"Hey Maddie."

"So what's happenin' tonight?" asked Maddie as she got to the candy counter.

"I'm having dinner at Zack and Cody's."

"Cool."

"Travis! Maddie!"

"Yes, sir?" responded Travis.

"I need you to work late on Saturday." said Mr. Moseby.

"But its Saturday!" said Travis, before Maddie could say anything.

"I'm sorry, but we're having a huge party and we're short a few people." explained Mr. Moseby.

"Alright." said Travis, glumly, after some thought.

"I'll stay later." Maddie said, happy to get a word in edgewise.

Travis had been quiet the whole time he'd been at Zack and Cody's.

"Is something wrong Travis?" asked Carey.

"No. Well, yeah. Well, not with the dinner. It's just that. My mom is staying in this hotel." said Travis, finishing up his food.

"What's the problem with that?" asked Carey.

"I haven't seen her since I was born. She put me up for adoption a couple days after my birth." replied Travis, looking up from his plate.

"So, you're afraid to confront her."

"Yeah. I mean. What if she doesn't accept me?"

"Well, just take a risk. Tell her."

"OK. I guess it's time to take my leave." Travis said, putting his plate in the sink. He walked to the door and before closing it behind him said:

"Carey?"

"Yes Travis?" responded Carey. Travis took a deep breath.

"You're my mother."

"What!"

"Well you said take a risk." said Travis, walking back into the suite.

"What makes you think I'm your mother?" asked Carey.

"OK. When you were seventeen, you had a child. That was sixteen years ago. I'm sixteen. You gave birth to the boy on January 17th. My birthday and I'm a boy. You gave up the child on January 19th. The day I was given up. It all makes sense. I was told when I was ten, you were my mother and that I had two younger brothers. Zack and Cody. I researched you. And a couple months ago I found out you worked here. That's the whole reason I applied for the job. To meet you." explained Travis.

"This isn't possible." said Carey.

"Why do you deny me? I'm your son. I can ask you questions about me that you'd probably know the answer to. Where was your first son's birthmark and what was it shaped like?" said Travis, on the verge of tears.

"Well, it was on his back and it was shaped like a deformed dolphin." answered Carey. Travis lifted the back of his shirt to show a birthmark that looked exactly how Carey described. Carey had to sit down for this. Yes it was true that she had had a baby when she was seventeen on January 17th and that he was a boy. It was also true that she put him up for adoption on January 19th. How could this teenager have known that unless he was her son? No. The orphanage isn't allowed to release that information. Or were they? Carey just sat there deep in thought.

"Look, I know this comes as a shock so I'll leave you to think about this." said Travis, trying to end this awkward silence and also to get out of this suite. He left and ran to suite a couple halls away. He had expected her reaction to be like that. It wasn't a surprise. All he wanted to do right now was go to sleep. Rest his head. He changed into his pajamas (which was basically his underwear and a white tee), then crashed on the couch. It didn't take him a long time to fall into a deep sleep.